Portfolio



p 1936- w' R. BYUXTQN 2,053,695

PORTFOLIO Filed June 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l p INVENTOR A WAR/V5? 3501mm ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1936-. w R, BUXTQN 2,053,695

PORTFOLIO Filed June 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z0 Z! Z/ INVENTOR MEAT/P 1?. 231/170 W M ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTFOLIO Warner R. Buxton, Longmeadow, Mass.

Application June 4, 1935, Serial No. 24,790

8 Claims. (01. 150--1.6)

This invention relates to improvements in portfolios.

The invention has for an object to provide in a portfolio, having division walls to form a plurality of pockets, an improved construction which enables one to secure more complete access to the contents of the pockets, for the inspection, selection, removal and insertion of papers, than can be had with the common type of portfolio,the socalled brief case type,-having pocket provisions.

The invention also has for an object the provision of a portfolio, which when opened, enables the walls thereof to be spread apart and positioned so as to stand substantially upright on a table or desk, with the several pockets fanned out and opened for easy access thereto.

These and other objects will more particularly appear as the detailed description proceeds and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portfolio, embodying the invention and shown closed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 just inside one of the covers;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view illus- .30 trating the reenforcement of the outer end edge of one of the partition members;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the portfolio shown in open position; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the open portfolio.

Referring to these drawings; the portfolio includes two flat outer walls or covers In (Fig. 1) of the same size and shape and made of any suitable flexible material, such as leather or the like. These outer walls H), which are mounted face to face, are permanently and hingedly connected together along one end edge I l so that they may be spread apart, swinging about the hinge connection. The necessary hinge connection may be made in any suitable manner. In this case, it is formed by inserting a narrow end wall l2, infolded as best shown in Fig. 3, to form a gusset allowing the walls I \l to move away from one another adjacent the hinge line and provide for the 50 expansion necessary to accommodate the papers carried in the portfolio. This wall I2 (Figs. 1 and 2) extends from the lower side edge l3 of 'each outer wall upwardly toward, but in this case not quite to the upper side edge 14 and is suitably secured, as by stitches l2, to the walls H1.

As shown, the wall l2 terminates just below one of the two rounded corners l5 which connect the upper side edge I4 to the aforesaid end edge II and to the opposite end edge I6.

The two outer walls 10 are interconnected by 5 a plurality of wall members I! which are constructed of leather, or any other suitable flexible material, and are infolded as best shown in Fig. 6, to form a plurality of pockets l8. The lower side edge of one member I! is connected to the side 10 edge l3 of one outer wall and the upper edge of said member is connected to the upper edge of the next adjacent member H. The latter member is connected to the next adjacent member along their meeting lower side edges and so on, 15 adjacent members I! of the series being connected first along their upper and then along their lower side edges until finally the lower side edge of the last wall I! of the series is connected to the lower side edge of the other outer wall Ill. The 20 various connections described may be made in any suitable manner. As herein shown, the connections are made by stitches l1.

These wall members I! cooperate in pairs to form partitions between the outer walls I0. Each 25 two adjacent walls I! which are interconnected along their upper side edges, constitute one such pair. One or more of such pairs may be used as desired and as shown, two pairs are used, thus affording two double-walled partitions between 30 the covers I0 and'providing, in cooperation with the covers, three pockets l8 each open along its upper end. Obviously, other pairs of walls I! may be added to provide additional pockets, if desired. 5

The walls I! are somewhat smaller in area' than walls l0 so that the upper side edge and both end edges of each are spaced from the corresponding and adjacent edges of Walls I0. These walls i! may thus lie wholly between and 40 within the margins of walls II] to be enclosed thereby, when the portfolio is closed. Walls I! are not secured to walls l0 except along the edges described. Both end edges and, more especially the outer end edge of each wall I1, is free of connections with walls In. This allows the walls I! to be spread apart as walls II] are swung open on their hinge connection, to put the portfolio in the self sustaining position shown in Fig. 6. To assist in making the walls I! stand more or less upright, as shown in Fig. 6, these walls are suitably reenforced. While the necessary reenforcement may be provided in any suitable way, I have found the expedient shown in Figs. 2 and 4 a simple, inexpensive and satisfacend edge.

tory solution of the problem. A wire I9 is applied along the outer end edge of each wall I! and held in place by folding over it the margin of the outer Wall, as shown in Fig. 4. The several wires l9 are not interconnected and therefore do not interfere with relative movement of the walls l'l. Each wire acts independently of the other to hold its wall against collapse or bending while standing on its lower edge in a more or less upright position.

The walls I! need not be connected together except along the side edges described. Still, it is possible to secure them together to a limited extent along their end edges as illustrated in Fig. 2 where the stitches I1 extend part way along this To do so helps to some extent in stiffening up the walls to make them self-sustaining when placed as shown in Fig. 6.

According to the broader features of the invention, the walls I may be held against substantial movement on their hinge connection, and in position to enclose the walls H, in any suitable way. A satisfactory and convenient way is that illustrated, wherein separable fastener means of the so-called zipper type are used. A tape 2|] carrying a series of fastener fingers 2|, is fastened to each wall It! and extends along the end edge l6, around one corner l5 and along the side edge 14 to and around the other corner, terminating just above the top of end Wall 12. The usual slide, shown at 22, serves to cause the two sets of fingers 2| to engage or disengage. When this slide 22 is positioned as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, all the fingers 2| are disengaged. The slide, when moved from such position to its other extreme position (at the intersection of edges 43 and I6) will cause all the fingers 2| to be engaged, whereby walls I0 are then held together along all edges except the lower side edge. However, one cannot gain access to the contents of the portfolio from the bottom or lower side edge thereof. All that is possible is to reach into the empty spaces between pairs of the walls I! as will be clear from Fig. 6.

The invention provides a novel form of partitioning means for portfolios. The pockets, provided by such means, are characterized by their accessibility. The partitioning means are characterized by their function of supporting the port- -folio in upright position with the pockets spread open for the easy selection of papers from the several pockets or for the filing of papers in such pockets. A pull on the zipper slide 22 into the position shown in Fig. 2, releases walls Ill from their interconnections, except along their adjacent and hinged end edges ll. Then, if the portfolio is held upright with its lower edge resting on a desk or table, the walls l0 may be swung apart, about the axis of their hinge connection, into a self-sustaining position. In spreading the walls Ill apart, the walls I! are likewise spread and the pockets l8 are opened to facilitate inspection, selection and removal of papers and also to enable convenient filing of the same. And these walls l1, reenforced as described, become, when spread apart, capable of standing upright. Each wall I! of one pair braces the other wall of the pair and forms a sufficient support for the portfolio independently of the outer walls I0. These walls I0, as shown, bend along a substantially diagonal line extending from the intersection of edges l3 and I6 to the upper end of end wall l2 near the zipper slide. One half of each wall It) thus lops over and bends down until the edges l4 and [6 rest in whole or in part on the table or desk. Naturally these walls Ill could readily be made so as not to bend down in the manner described but this action is considered an advantage in that it enables easier and more complete access to the papers in the two outer pockets. When the portfolio is to be closed, the bent down corners of walls H] are lifted and the walls swung together as much as possible, thus moving the pocket-forming walls together. The portfolio is then closed by pulling the zipper slide into its other extreme position, above described.

The invention thus aifords a portfolio of improved construction, which provides for partitioning into pockets and yet, when opened, allows much better access to the contents and enables the desired papers to be located, removed and replaced more easily and conveniently than is possible in the conventional type of brief case usually employed and having pockets.

What I claim is:

1. A portfolio, comprising, a pair of outer walls hingedly connected together along one end edge, a plurality of wall members interconnecting one side edge of one outer wall to the corresponding side edge of the other outer wall and infolded to lie between the outer walls and partition the space therebetween thereby forming a plurality of pockets open adjacent the opposite end and side edges of said outer walls, and separable fastener means for holding said outer walls together and preventing relative swinging movement thereof about the hinge connection therebetween.

2. A portfolio, comprising, a pair of outer walls hingedly connected together along one end edge, a plurality of wall members interconnecting one side edge of one outer wall to the corresponding side edge of the other outer wall and infolded to lie between the outer Walls and partition the space therebetween thereby forming a plurality of pockets open adjacent the opposite end and side edges of said outer walls, said outer walls being larger in area than the infolded members and extending beyond both end edges and one side edge thereof, a row of fasteners along the other end edge and second named side edge of each outer wall, and means slidable in one direction to engage and in the opposite direction to disengage said rows of fasteners to hold the outer walls together in closure forming relation with the open ends of said pockets.

3. A portfolio, comprising, companion outer walls, a plurality of wall members interconnecting one side edge of one outer wall to the corresponding side edge of the other outer wall and infolded to lie between the outer walls and partition the space therebetween thereby forming a plurality of pockets each open at opposite ends and adjacent the other side edges of said outer walls, said infolded wall members being otherwise free of connections to the outer walls, said outer walls being larger than the infolded members and projecting beyond opposite ends of each thereof and beyond that side which lies adjacent the open end of the pocket, said outer walls being hingedly connected along one end edge, whereby they may be swung apart to spread the infolded wall members and open wide the pockets, and separable fastener means for interconnecting the outer walls to hold them against swinging movement.

4. A portfolio, comprising, companion outer walls, a plurality of wall members interconnecting one side edge of one outer wall to the corresponding side edge of the other outer wall and infolded to lie between the outer walls and partition the space therebetween thereby forming a plurality of pockets each open at opposite ends and adjacent the other side edges of said outer walls, said infolded wall members being otherwise free of connections to the outer walls, said outer Walls being larger than the infolded members and projecting beyond opposite ends of each thereof and beyond that side which lies adjacent the open end of the pocket, said outer walls being hingedly connected along one end edge, whereby they may be swung apart to spread the infolded wall members and open wide the pockets, and separable fastener means for interconnecting the outer walls along their second-named side edges and other end edges to prevent swinging movement of the outer walls and escape of contents from said pockets.

5. A portfolio, comprising, two outer walls hingedly connected along one end edge, rows of separable fasteners one row for each wall and each row arranged along the opposite end edge and one side edge of its wall leaving the other side edge free, a member movable in one direction to engage and in the opposite direction to disengage said rows of fasteners, a series of partition walls intervening between the outer walls and adapted to be enclosed between the outer walls when said rows of fasteners are engaged, successive partition walls of the series being connected first along one side edge and then along the opposite side edge and the end walls of the series being connected one to each outer wall along the free side edge thereof.

6. A portfolio, comprising, two outer walls hingedly connected along one end edge, rows of separable fasteners one row for each wall and each row arranged along the opposite end edge and one side edge of its wall leaving the other side edge free, a member movable in one direction to engage and in the opposite direction to disengage said rows of fasteners, a series of partition walls intervening between the outer walls and adapted to be enclosed between the outer walls when said rows of fasteners are engaged,

successive partition walls of the series being connected first along one side edge and then along the opposite side edge and the end walls of the series being connected one to each outer wall along the free side edge thereof, said partition walls being otherwise free of connections to the outer walls and free to float therebetween.

7. A portfolio, comprising, a pair of covers hingedly connected along one edge, separable fastener means for holding the covers together along the other end edge and one side edge of each, said covers when said fastener means are released adapted to be spread apart swinging on said hinge connection and supported from the other side edge of each with at least a substantial portion of each cover in substantially upright position, and at least one pair of wall members intervening between the covers, the members of each pair having their upper side edges connected together and their lower side edges connected one to the lower side edge of each cover to be spread apart into inverted V-form thereby forming a braced support for holding the portfolio while open in upright position.

8. A portfolio, comprising, a pair of covers hingedly connected along one edge, separable fastener means for holding the covers together along the other end edge and one side edge of each, said covers when said fastener means are released adapted to be spread apart swinging on said hinge connection and supported from the other side edge of each with at least a substantial portion of each cover in substantially upright position, and at least one pair of wall members intervening between the covers, each member having that end edge most remote from said hinge connection reenforced against substantial bending, the members of each pair having their upper side edges connected together and their lower side edges connected one to the lower side edge of each cover to be spread apart into inverted V-form thereby forming a braced support for holding the portfolio while open in upright position.

WARNER R. BUXTON. 

